Gas-tank cap



Oct. 30, 192s. 1,689,979

H. E. TATE ET AL GAS TANK CAP Filed Feb. 14, 1928 29 Z0' @gf/Z554 .f5 a ,7

Patented Oct. 30,1928.

UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOHER E. TATE, JAMES E. KING, ANI) HERBERT BARBER, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

GAS-TANK CAP.

Application led February 14, 1928. Serial No. 254,310.

Our invention relates to a closure or cap for a gasoline tank of an automobile, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character with means for locking the same against unauthorized removal so that it cannot be stolen or access had to the tank by an unauthorized person, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described` and claimed.

ltc'l'erring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereon and on which similar reference characters indicate similar pants,

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the device in position for lling theJ tank with gasoline, and

Figure 2, a vcrticalsection.

In the drawings reference character l0 indicates a tank of conventional construction having an upstanding neck l1 externally threaded at 12 for thereception of a cap or cover.

Caps of ordinary construction are threaded onto an extension of this kind and in tilling the tank the cap is screwed oil' and replaced after the filling operation.

In lieu of the conventional cap, we provide a cap with a body 13 having internal threads let formed complementarily with the threads on the neck 11 so that our device may be used to replace the conventional cap. 'lhe body 13 is provided with a pair of spaced ears 15 between which is pivoted the hinge lug 16 of an arm 17 which extends diametrically across the body 13 and is provided with an inwardly projecting bolt 18 controlled by a key 19 and a lock 20. A cap 20 normally covers the lock 20 and excludes rain and the like therefrom. The bolt 18 projects into a depression 21 in the body 13 and when in locked position prevents the arm 1,7 from being raised untilfthetkeyis used. The recess or depression`21 is yprovided with a set screw `22 by means ofwhichthe body may be fastened in position so that it cannot be unscrewed until the set screw is removed, the set screw being concealed in the depression for the locking bolt and access to the same cannot be had when the locking bolt is4 in the said re- CESE.

A lid or cover plate 23 is provided Vior closing the upper end of the body 13, such hd having a central upwardly projecting sleeve or n ipple24` which extends for a short distance into a recess 25 in the arm 17 so that water may not find its way through the cap.

'A central disk 26 is secured beneath the under side of the lid and is provided with aperforation 27 disposed concentrically with the sleeve or projection in the same and a screw 28 extends t irough the said disk into the arm 17, a spring 29being disposed around the screw between the lid and the arm for yieldingly pressing the lid away from the arm whereby the lid will be at all times when the cap is in closed position resiliently held on its seat.

The upper portion of the body 13 is preferably provided with a recess'30 to acco1u1nodate the 11d 23 and a gasket 31 may be disposed in said recess to seal the joint. Also to form a broader seat an internal ange 32 is also provided. A gasket 33 is placed. between the neck 11 andthe cap 13.

In order that observation of the device will readily disclose whether or not the cap is locked in position, we provide a spring 31: which extends around the pivot between the sections ofthe hinge and maintainsthe cap elevated outl of locked position and which is held under compression when the device is locked.

It will be readily apparent that we have provided a cap for the gas tank of an automobile that may be readily applied or removed, which when locked will prevent the theft of the cap or gasoline from the tank and which will exclude water or the like from the tank y but w'ill atiord the necessary ventilation.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in our de-.

vice without departing from'the spirit of the invention and we, therefore, do not limit ourselves to what is shown in thedrawings and described in the specification, but only as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new and desire to se .whereby the locking bolt will conceal'said head, and a lid for saidbody resiliently carried by said arm, substantially as set fort-h,

leo

emi mi meent/e so that access may not be had to the Het screw when the locking bolt is in the depreesion, substantially its set forth.

In Witness whereof, We our hands at Ashlnnd, Kentucky, thiseleventh dny of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-eight.

HOMER E. TATE. JAMES E. KING. HERBERT BARBER.

have hereunto set A15 

